Rail Mounted Propane?

[newportknots]

Hey there,

My boat is currently set up with a CNG stove and I'd like to make the switch over to propane.

I don't have a free spot for a vented locker and was wondering if anyone had experience mounting tanks outside. I've seen setups with a couple of 6lb tanks on the stern rail - is this considered ABYC compliant?

[sailingdog]

While it is probably fairly safe to rail mount propane tanks, provided they're not over the cockpit and the propane will drain overboard, I doubt it is ABYC compliant.

Be aware that you'll have to replace the burners if switching from CNG to propane.

[montenido]

Hi, I also have CNG and I'm curious as to why you are going to switch? My CNG cylinder is in the stern lazarette and so far I have no complaints.

Thanks, montenido

[sailingdog]

CNG has serious availability problems, and if you're going long-term cruising outside of the USA, it is often impossible to get. Propane is pretty widely available, and where it isn't, you can often get GAZ or butane, either of which will work in a propane stove, but not in a CNG one.

[JohnRPollard]

I don't think ABYC would object to something like this:

[bestfriend]

CD......... Post For You!!!!!

[Faster]

We ran our former boat with this setup (below) for over a decade without problems, and there's no issue whatever with propane accumulation anywhere near the tanks! We bent the rings (seen at the bottom of the tanks) from 1/2" SS tubing, they were clamped to the vertical stanchion of the stern pulpit.

[sailingdog]

If the tanks are going to be exposed to a lot of sea water, it would probably be best if you used COMPOSITE tanks. The fiberglass tanks won't rust or corrode, like aluminum or steel tanks.

[Faster]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

If the tanks are going to be exposed to a lot of sea water, it would probably be best if you used COMPOSITE tanks. The fiberglass tanks won't rust or corrode, like aluminum or steel tanks.

Actually we had surprisingly little problem with our tanks rusting or corroding.. in fact these exposed tanks fared better than those in our current boat's traditional "propane locker" - probably due to frequent fresh water rinses (it rains a bit here) and the ability to quickly dry off.

[JohnRPollard]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

If the tanks are going to be exposed to a lot of sea water, it would probably be best if you used COMPOSITE tanks. The fiberglass tanks won't rust or corrode, like aluminum or steel tanks.

I wonder about UV, though.

Although I'd worry more about the propane lines and UV. It would be good to sleeve them with some material (hollow dacron webbing?)

Faster's tanks look better than the ones we have for our home BBQ...